Justice Grants to Aid Vulnerable People in North Queensland

Vulnerable people in North Queensland, including victims of domestic violence and Indigenous women, will benefit from grants of almost $80,000 from the Bligh Government for local community justice initiatives.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine today announced funding of $34,900 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal Services North Queensland, $22,600 for the Townsville Community Legal Service and $19,500 for the Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre.

Mr Shine said the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal Services North Queensland would develop new resources for Indigenous women in rural and remote communities.

“Two booklets will be produced specifically for Indigenous women to explain the parenting system, child support reform and related processes using simple language and illustrations,” he said.

“Existing information is not in a format easily understood by Indigenous women and these new resources will help make the law and processes easy to understand.

“The agency, which services communities from Sarina to the Torres Strait, will also provide a local referral list where women can get legal and other assistance, as well as access to free telephone advice and follow-up service.”

Mr Shine said the Townsville Community Legal Service’s grant would examine the issue of neighbourhood disputes.

“This initiative is timely given that my department recently released a discussion paper for public comment on how to best address these types of disputes,” he said.

“The legal service’s project will analyse community legal centre data to understand and model neighbourhood disputes and disputants, which will be published in a report.

“Funding will meet wages and other staff costs, travel, administrative and publishing expenses."

Mr Shine said the grant for the Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre would employ a court support worker at Ingham to assist victims of domestic and family violence.

“The centre has identified that many more people require support through the court process than are currently receiving it,” he said.

“The court worker will assist people at the court but also be available at the support centre one day a week to assist with protection order applications.

“Funds will cover the worker’s salary, vehicle, general administrative and incidental expenses.”


Mr Shine said the grants were among 28 initiatives to be funded this year from the Legal Practitioner Interest on Trust Accounts Fund (LPITAF) which is administered by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to enhance community legal services and education.

“These grants will help to level the legal playing field for some of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised people in our society, including victims of crime, people with disabilities, Indigenous Queenslanders, young people and refugees,” he said.

“Grants range from $15,000 to $155,000 and will provide more than $1.8 million in total for a wide range of worthwhile projects across the state.”


Media contact: Troy Davies 3239 6400 or 0488 799 273